Cakes by Happy Eatery: Manassas, VA

Cakes by Happy Eatery

Regular: $3.00

If you're happy and you know it, eat some cupcakes (clap, clap). If you're happy and you know it eat some cupcakes (clap, clap). If you're happy and you know it and your smile will surely show it. If you're happy and you know it eat more cupcakes (clap, clap).

German Chocolate, Eclair, Chocolate Chantilly, Cookies and Cream

First, it's a good thing you can't hear us singing along or trying to find out how to change the words so they mention drinking milk or eating cupcakes with your friends. Both of us seem to be in a singing mood this whole summer and we had to write one more tune, until we get that singing buzz again (future sighting or singing...maybe the Christmas season. Just warning you). 

This song fits our visit to Cakes by Happy Eatery. This bakery has been around for sometime in the Centreville and Manassas area. It has been known by the locals for many years and has a great standing with them. When you start your sentence with "Cakes by..." it is finished by the person you are talking with followed by some story they have about them. So, naturally we ventured over to Libra Street in Manassas to have a visit and partake of this story in Northern Virginia.

German Chocolate

They have a good variety of cupcakes to pick from. But, this time CarrotCake and I decided to go with our eyes than with a list of things we had to try. We picked four this time: German Chocolate, Chocolate Chantilly, Cookies and Cream, and a Eclair cupcake. The first three are from their Chocolate Series line (I like the sound of that). These cupcakes all begin with a rich chocolate Devil’s food cake batter and are taken to the next happiness level of yumminess. 

The German Chocolate Cupcake topping is a coconut pecan praline topping. The cake was divine but we felt the frosting needed to be smaller and more coconut pecan praline added. The latter seems to be the best part of any german chocolate cake. But, the chocolate frosting was smooth and buttery.

The Chocolate Chantilly has a creamy center of white filling; like the small cakes from the store with the same topping as this cupcake. We like the topping of this one more than those cakes from the store, because this one is dipped in ganache. This was a wonderful ganache! I think I should have asked for a bowl of it ; )

inside the Chocolate Chantilly

Cookies and Cream....this has to be the one to get everytime, if not, just for the topping. Have you ever had a cookies and cream cupcake and thought "yea, that kinda taste like an oreo in there." Well, the verdict is out now, you were eating the store brand oreo. Sorry, but it's the truth. You were fooled. It wasn't until we tasted this cupcake that the realization hit us. We were relieved to know real oreo frosting for the first time. All silliness aside...or is it? LOL. This frosting really taste like eating oreos. Just with a creamy frosting mixed into it. You can taste and see the white inside, that we all love, in their frosting along with that chocolate cookie. Now, back to the cake part. We felt it needed to be a lighter cake. The frosting is heavy and also having a heavier cake just was a lot to get through.

Cookies & Cream

The only cupcake we tried that wasn't chocolate was the Eclair cupcake. It was a vanilla cake with a buttercream frosting topped with dusting of mini chocolate chips. The cake was a little dry but we could taste the good flavor it had and the frosting was very smooth and dreamy. We would just add a little more mini chocolate chips to the top.

Over all the experience was delicious. It left a tune in our heads, our taste buds singing and tummies full. 

Gluten Free: Available (limited flavors daily)

Sugar Free: Available (Vanilla or chocolate sponge cake with vanilla, chocolate or strawberry cream)

Vegan: Available (Egg and diary-free chocolate cake topped with non-dairy vanilla or chocolate cream)

*They advertise on their business cards and website that they do cater to customers with special diet limitations. That was nice to see :)

Cupcake Atmosphere: 4 out of 5 (feels like you are walking into someone's large kitchen)

Flavor Selection: 4 out of 5 (great basic section, just bigger sizes and more toppings)

Customer Service: 3 out of 5 (the staff were friendly, but we felt rushed. It was our first time and they didn't ask if it was or if we had any questions about the cupcakes. Like other cupcakery's have done.)

Overall Quality: 4.5 out of 5 (the cupcakes were good, but customer service is a little lacking)

Cupcaked Bakery: Clifton, VA

Cupcaked Bakery
Regular: $3.50
Mini: $1.50
Gluten Free: $4.50

One of the newest cupcakeries in Northern Virginia is seeking to make a splash much like the upcoming Autumn colors! Cupcaked Bakery is located in the charming old town of Clifton, VA, but did the cupcakes live up to the old town charm? Well, we will say that Cupcaked is an adorable little shop with a beautiful decor of bright purple and a tasteful cupcake themed decor. The staff was friendly and welcomed us to their new establishment with eager enthusiasm and warm hospitality. But the BIG question of the day... were the cupcakes any good?

Chocolate Mocha Cupcake

The Red Velvet cupcake is a staple of any good cupcakery, and this Cupcaked version was a simple representation of the classic. Although, the cream cheese frosting was smooth and creamy, the red velvet cake itself was... dare we say it... too chocolatey. Now before you hard core chocolate lovers out there start leaving us comments about how nothing is "too chocolatey", and reminding us that we have established many times before that red velvet must have coco as a staple ingredient... well, we (and especially ChocolateGauche) agree with you, BUT we have to be honest and say that red velvet is not a chocolate cake... it is a complex and beautiful balance of coco and brown sugary tastes that can be a magical flavor balance... it is not a vanilla cake dyed red and it is not a chocolate cake... it is a red velvet... a catagory all its own ;)

Pear & Brie Cupcake

Speaking of chocolate cakes, the Chocolate Mocha was a good chocolatey and moist cake that was topped with a creamed coffee buttercream, drizzled with caramel, and topped with a chocolate covered coffee bean. The buttercream was a bit too sweet, so with the edition of the caramel drizzle it was a too much... but the cake was good.

Cupcaked had a lot of interesting fruit inspired cupcake flavors that definitely stood apart from other cupcakeries. The Pear & Brie is a great example of a classic fruit and cheese pairing turned cupcake. The vanilla cake was filled with caramelized pears, which really drove the theme home and helped add texture and flavor to the cake. However, the brie buttercream didn't have enough brie flavor tones, and again the buttercream was too sweet. Although, the addition of brown sugar pecans on top was charming and continued to play with the old town homestyle theme.

Lemon Coconut Cupcake

The best cupcake we had during this visit was the Lemon Coconut cupcake. Once again Cupcaked is showing off its unique fruit inspired pairings, and it definitely worked well here with a different take on the old classic coconut cupcake. The addition of lemon really contrasted well with the nutty coconut in the cake, and the marshmallow icing topped with toasted coconut was once again unique and delicious. Great cupcake!

Gluten Free: Available (limited flavors daily)
Sugar Free: Not Available
Vegan: Not Available

Cupcake Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 (this was a charming space that had a welcoming atmosphere, and there was plenty of indoor seating too)
Flavor Selection: 4 out of 5 (there were definitely some unique fruit inspired cupcakes, but the other non-fruity flavors were not as interesting)
Customer Service: 5 out of 5 (the staff were really friendly and inviting... they even served us complimentary water )

Overall Quality: 3.5 out of 5 (the cupcakes have potential BUT some of the frostings were too sweet)

UPDATE Cake Love: Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA

Our tummies and taste buds are in shock, still, when we came across a boarded up Cake Love at the Fair Oaks Mall a few weeks ago. We hope that they will reopen back to the Fairfax area soon. As we are in need of a cupcake while shopping. We will miss you Cake Love at the Fair Oaks Mall. Cake Love still has their DC store open. Here is an address for you Cake Love fans: 1506 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009                 Chocolate Ganache and CarrotCake send our condolences.